He has given us … a living hope. 1 PETER 1:3 NIV

Mount Auburn, America’s first cemetery, was so beautiful it became the number-one tourist attraction in Boston. When they created Central Park in New York they modeled it after Mount Auburn. The rallying cry was, “Why not have it all, but without the graves?” We keep trying to have it all, but without the graves! But we can’t. We live only a heartbeat from eternity. So here are two truths you must keep in mind:

(1) God put you on this earth for a specific purpose. Have you found yours yet? Are you pouring your life into it and making every moment count? Paul did, and he ended up writing: “The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2Ti 4:6-8 NKJV).

 (2) When you know Christ as your Savior; the best is yet to be. It is said that on his deathbed, D.L. Moody suddenly sat upright, opened his arms as though embracing something wonderful, declared that earth was receding, heaven was near, and that it was his coronation day. What a way to go! You don’t

need to fear death because Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” On 11:25-26 NKJV). Believe it, it’s true!

Taken from THE BEST OF THE WORD FOR YOU TODAY.

The best part of Easter is the day after when all the chocolate goes on sale.

Tell your kids you hid an Easter egg with $50 in the backyard but you don’t remember where. Enjoy a quiet day indoors.

If you buy me a hollow chocolate bunny for Easter, you’re dead to me.

My parents accused me of being a liar. I looked them in the face & said, ”Tooth fairy, Santa, Easter Bunny” & walked away like a boss.

APRIL 9

He has given us … a living hope. 1 PETER 1:3 NIV

Ernest Becker wrote a book called The Denial of Death. In it he said we live our lives ignoring, avoiding and repressing the truth that we are mortal, and sooner or later we are all going to die. He pointed out that it’s the reason for our workaholism, approval addictions and obsession with money and security. Becker published his book in 1974 with great acclaim, won the Pulitzer Prize and became famous. That year he found out he had cancer. That year he turned to God. That year he died.

It’s said that Arizona has the largest cryonics foundation in the world. For a healthy fee your blood can be filled with anti-coagulants, your body frozen and stored in a capsule of liquid nitrogen at minus 320 degrees until you can be reheated later, At that point advanced medical technology can cure whatever disease killed you and you can live again. Or if you don’t like being cold, another company offers “eternity in a paperweight.” For a small fee your DNA is put in a little box: for the next ten thousand years so that you can be cloned whenever it’s convenient. They also offer a ten-thousand-year money-back guarantee, though it’s hard to say who will collect if things go wrong. John Ortberg writes: “We try to outsmart death in more subtle ways; health clubs, skin creams, surgical techniques, new diets, warmer climates, better medications, smarter doctors and more. Perhaps science will help us live forever; like Gulliver’s toothless, hairless, memoryless race of Struldbrugs.” Rejoice, Jesus conquered death, and His resurrection guaranteed yours: “He has given us … a living hope through the resurrection … into an inheritance that can never perish” (lPe 1:3-4 NIV).

Taken from THE BEST OF THE WORD FOR YOU TODAY.

Why was the father Easter egg so strict? He was hard-boiled.

Where does the Easter Bunny study medicine? John HOPkins

What did the mommy egg say to the baby egg? You’re “Egg-stra special”.

If Easter Egg hunting was an Olympic event, I would have a Gold Medal by now.

Easter dinner was great…. I’m Egg-zosted!

I will never admit to my parents that I don’t believe in the Easter Bunny or Santa as long as I still get presents and candy.

On Easter, I rather fall in chocolate eggs than in love.

APRIL 8

God … reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18 NKJV

Miller writes: “My nine-year-old daughter Jennifer was looking forward to our family vacation. But she became ill, and a long-anticipated day at Sea World was replaced by an all-night series of CT scans, Xvrays and blood work at the hospital. As morning approached the doctor told my exhausted little girl that she would need to have one more test, a spinal tap. The procedure would be painful, they said. The doctor then asked me if I planned to stay in the room. I nodded, knowing I couldn’t leave Jennifer alone during the ordeal, The doctor gently asked Jennifer to remove all her clothing. She looked at me with child-like modesty as if to ask if that were alright. They had her curl up into a tiny ball. I buried my face in hers and hugged her. When the needle went in, Jennifer cried. As the searing pain increased, she sobbed repeatedly, ‘Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,’ her voice becoming more earnest with each word. It was as if she were saying ‘Oh Daddy, please, can’t you do something?’ My tears mingled with hers. My heart was broken, I felt nauseated. Because I loved her, I was allowing her to go through the most agonizing experience of her life. In the middle of that spinal tap my thoughts went to the Cross. What unspeakable

pain both the Son and the Father went through-for our sake.”

But because of the Cross of Christ we have: (1) Reconciliation. “God … reconciled us to Himself.” (2) Regeneration. “Having been born again” (lPe 1:23 NKJV). (3) Resurrection. “Everyone who … believes .. .I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40 NKJV). Thank God for the Cross!

How does the Easter Bunny say Happy Easter? Hoppy Easter!

Why did the magician have to cancel his show? He’d just washed his hare and couldn’t do a thing with it.

What type of movie is about water fowl? A duckumentary.

What is the difference between a crazy bunny and a counterfeit bill? One is bad money and the other is a mad bunny!

What’s long and stylish and full of cats? The Easter Purrade!

What is the end of Easter? The letter R.